In 2003, a lively college town in Kentucky faces tragedy after the vicious rape and murder of student Katie Autry; as police sift through the suspect list, two people stand out from the rest; one learns if they play with fire, they will get burned.

A prison nurse falls hard for an inmate, and they start a torrid affair. However, their forbidden secret doesn't stay locked up for long, and in August of 2005, one criminal in the relationship turns into two.